The Ripple Effect: Wendy Block and Generation Impact
Wendy Block’s – Impact Fairfield County’s (Impact FFC’s) fearless originator and co- founder – answer to the question “What ‘ripple’ are you most proud of?” may surprise you.
She did not cite the large network of wise, passionate women she helped create or the impressive structures and systems she and co-founder Vicki Craver put in place ten-plus years ago that Impact FFC is still using to select grantees today. Rather, Wendy spoke about Generation Impact, a program inspired by Impact FFC that engages high school girls in community grant-making, and which her 12th-grade daughter Ellie is currently co-president. “I love how Generation Impact offers these young women the opportunity to lead, gain perspective, and support non-profits at such a young age. What they learn through this program will benefit them and their communities for a lifetime,” Wendy explained.
Generation Impact Fairfield County is a program for high school girls to learn about the needs in our community and work together to make an impact. Generation Impact’s goal is to have at least 100 members who each donate $100 (or are sponsored members), 100% of which is combined into a $10,000 grant awarded to one local, non-profit organization with a youth-serving program. Additional grants are awarded to theother three finalists.
Generation Impact was started in 2019 by Isabel Allard, the daughter of one of Impact FFC’s founding board members, Sara Allard. At that time, Isabel was a 10th grader, and when brainstorming how to get involved with the community, she was inspired by the work she had grown up witnessing her mother and her mother’s friends lead. Since its launch seven years ago, Generation Impact has awarded $100,500 in grants, reviewed 192 applications, and had 635 members spanning 26 schools.
Generation Impact hosts 3 “big” meetings (Big Launch, Big Review, and Big Give) and a series of site visits that are strategically timed during the school year. Members can participate as much as their schedules allow, and like Impact FFC, every member gets one vote to award the grant. In addition, members have the opportunity to volunteer throughout the year with the past winner and finalist organizations.
“Through Generation Impact, girls learn directly about the issues other kids face in our community and gives us a chance to help in a meaningful way,” explained Ellie. As Wendy’s daughter so eloquently demonstrates, by founding Impact FFC, Wendy touched not only its 750 past and current adult members but also a new generation of changemakers who will create ripples for years to come.
To learn more about Generation Impact’s work and how to get involved (members must be high school students living in or near Fairfield County), please reach out to generationimpactffc@gmail.com.